Some of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game will swap their bats for golf clubs, and resume battle at the BMW New Zealand Open when they line up in the inaugural ANZ Celebrity Challenge from March 12-15.

West Indians Sir Viv Richards and Brian
Lara, Englishmen Sir Ian Botham and Graeme Swann, Australians Ricky Ponting and
Shane Warne and New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Mark Richardson
will all be contesting the event, as amateur golfers in a Pro-Am teams format,
to be branded the ANZ Celebrity Challenge.

Botham returns after first playing as a
celebrity at The Hills in 2013, jumping at the chance to take up the challenge
again this year.

"I find it difficult to turn down the
chance to come and play golf in New Zealand, especially in Queenstown with its
stunning scenery and fantastic food and wine," said Botham. "I have played in
the Dunhill event for many years, and it’s just great to see a tournament
played across similar lines being held in New Zealand".

An added incentive for Botham this year is
the chance to play alongside living legend Sir Viv Richards.  The two enjoyed a great rivalry on the
cricket field during the 1980s and were equally good friends off the
field.  These days, they are more
concerned with their short game than tearing opposition teams apart.

Meanwhile, former New Zealand captain
Stephen Fleming and long time Australian rival Ricky Ponting are back for the
second year running to try to beat each other on the manicured fairways of The
Hills and Millbrook.  Ponting showed his
golfing class with six birdies in the opening round in 2013, so Fleming will
have his work cut out to beat his Aussie mate.

Ponting was just thrilled to be coming back
for another crack. "I can’t wait for the chance to pit my golfing skills again
with some of the best cricketing names in the game. The BMW New Zealand Open is
a fantastic event and I love coming to Queenstown to be part of the action," he
said.

Fleming was equally enthused. "This
tournament is always a key date in my diary. Its heaps of fun, especially as I
get to battle it out with my cricketing peers on the golf course in such a
beautiful setting," said Fleming. "My experience of playing in 2014 event would
rank up there with some of the best sporting moments in my entire career".

Like Ponting and Fleming, former Black Caps
opener Mark Richardson is taking up the challenge once again, while Brian Lara,
Nathan Astle, Shane Warne and Graeme Swann are making their debuts.  No doubt all will be keen to outstrip their
cricket rivals in the ANZ Celebrity Challenge, which promises plenty of
fireworks and maybe some good-natured sledging along the way.

Shane Warne added that he was "really
excited to be a part of the Pro-Am" and that "hopefully I can find some form
before the tournament starts! I absolutely loved my last round at The Hills
 late last year, and am looking forward to getting back out there again".

John Hart, Chairman of the BMW New Zealand
Open organising committee welcomed the opportunity to have New Zealand’s most
prestigous golf event align with the Cricket World Cup. "It is quite unique to
have this incredible line-up of cricket legends come to New Zealand as a group for
the first time. Our tournament creates the opportunity to celebrate New
Zealand’s co-hosting of the Cricket World Cup, and to enjoy the banter and
rivalry that exists amongst this group of legendary sportsmen."

Susan McGregor, ANZ’s Head of Corporate Marketing and
Sponsorship, said the ANZ Celebrity Challenge will inject some highly
competitive celebrity fun into the professional tournament, which is a tier one
event on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

"ANZ is proud to
be able to bring some of the world’s greatest cricketers to this year’s BMW New
Zealand Open as part of our summer celebration of everything Cricket.

"The ANZ
Celebrity Challenge will be fun but, make no mistake, the competition will be
fierce. As supporters of cricket in New Zealand for more than 15 years and golf
for a number of years we’ve learnt that the one thing the two sports have in
common is intensely competitive players.

"It will
make compelling viewing to see these legends of cricket go head-to-head on the
golf course and we’re thrilled to be part of one of the world’s most unique
National Opens."The BMW New Zealand Open, incorporating the ANZ Celebrity Challenge will be
played at The Hills and Millbrook Resort from March 12-15, 2015.

For more information about the The BMW New Zealand Open, please click here